Surfactant dynamics at interfaces : a series of second harmonic generation experiments

Adsorption layers of soluble surfactants enable and govern a variety of phenomena in surface and colloidal sciences, such as foams. The ability of a surfactant solution to form wet foam lamellae is governed by the surface dilatational rheology. Only systems having a non-vanishing imaginary part in their surface dilatational modulus, E, are able to form wet foams. The aim of this thesis is to illuminate the dissipative processes that give rise to the imaginary part of the modulus. There are two controversial models discussed in the literature. The reorientation model assumes that the surfactants adsorb in two distinct states, differing in their orientation. This model is able to describe the frequency dependence of the modulus E. However, it assumes reorientation dynamics in the millisecond time regime. In order to assess this model, we designed a SHG pump-probe experiment that addresses the orientation dynamics. Results obtained reveal that the orientation dynamics occur in the picosecond time regime, being in strong contradiction with the two states model. The second model regards the interface as an interphase. The adsorption layer consists of a topmost monolayer and an adjacent sublayer. The dissipative process is due to the molecular exchange between both layers. The assessment of this model required the design of an experiment that discriminates between the surface compositional term and the sublayer contribution. Such an experiment has been successfully designed and results on elastic and viscoelastic surfactant provided evidence for the correctness of the model. Because of its inherent surface specificity, surface SHG is a powerful analytical tool that can be used to gain information on molecular dynamics and reorganization of soluble surfactants. They are central elements of both experiments. However, they impose several structural elements of the model system. During the course of this thesis, a proper model system has been identified and characterized. The combination of several linear and nonlinear optical techniques, allowed for a detailed picture of the interfacial architecture of these surfactants.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Potsdam

Year

2006

Author dc:creator

• Andersen, Audrée

Contributors dc:contributor

• Möhwald, Helmuth

• Oscillating Bubble
• surfactants
• nonlinear optics
• surface rheology
• air-water interface

Repository record source_url

https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/578

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kobv.de-opus4-uni-potsdam:578